Getting to 3rd Congressional District candidate Lori Trahan

Joy Richard jrichard@wickedlocal.com

Wednesday

Oct 10, 2018 at 12:16 PMOct 10, 2018 at 12:16 PM

For Democratic congressional candidate and Westford resident Lori Trahan, the road to the midterms has been filled with excitement, eye-opening conversations, passionate supporters, stressful moments and learning experiences, a culmination she hopes will inspire voters this November.

Trahan is running for the Massachusetts third district congressional seat as the Democratic candidate. She became the nominee for the party after a district-wide recount on Monday, Sept. 17, edging out Dan Koh, her closet opponent in the primaries. There were 10 original candidates for the Democratic nomination.

Trahan will now square off against Republican candidate Rick Green and Independent Mike Mullen for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell. Tsongas has been a member of Congress for the past six years; she announced her retirement in 2017.

Walking into Trahan's Prescott Street campaign office on Monday, Oct. 8, the mood of volunteers was positive as each worked on the race, blue and yellow Trahan signs on the walls, election swag ready to hand out to voters as the election approaches.

Trahan's mission

Growing up in Lowell and now living in Westford with her husband and children, Trahan said even with the tumultuous political climate of the last few years, and even the last few weeks, she is more inspired than ever to represent Massachusetts on the national level. She said like Tsongas, she is passionate about representing veterans, women and working families. She said these three platforms, along with making education more affordable and accessible to those living and working in the district, top the list of what she would like to champion if elected.

"One of the most enriching parts of this district is its diversity," said Trahan when asked about how she would balance all of the needs of a diverse constituency if elected. "I think the key is really being tethered to the people you represent."

She added she has been a part of of many discussions and projects concerning economic development and city revitalization. Trahan said she is confident she would be able to bring "a blueprint," of knowledge when to comes to working with both state and local government when it comes to these issues.

She said outside of the cities, she knows people are concerned when it comes to the environment, from protecting waterways to preserving conservation land.

"As long as you're getting around the district listening to people, you'll be able to represent all of the diversity of the people who live here," she said adding she knows the "value of town meetings," and knowing what is going on at the local level.

"Whether you live in Westford, or whether you live in Lowell, or Marlborough, or Fitchberg, you're going to see me in your city and or town, because I believe I am only going to be effective if I am in touch with the people I represent," said Trahan.

This, combined with her interest in working to find help for those with substance abuse issues, health care, immigration reform, election reform and the environment are issues she is looking to take to Capitol Hill.

She said she knows affordable housing is a topic of interest and concern. She said it's even affected her family, pushing her parents to move out of the city where they raised their children.

"Regular families are hurting," said Trahan. "The high cost of living has completely outpaced earnings. Wages for the most part have been stagnant and that is hurting people. There is a lot of economic anxiety out there. That is what I want to be a voice for. And that is widespread, I don't care what community you're in, it's not just affecting our big cities. In the suburbs people are buckling under these costs."

For more information visit her campaign website loritrahan.com.

"I think now more than ever I am even more motivated," said Trahan. "This is a 'change' election. I always said after 2016 I thought that it delivered disruption to Washington. From my work in the private sector I know one thing to be true, when disruption happens, change always follows. I think that is what you're seeing with this midterm election. A lot of people who never thought about running for office, women like me are using this as their opportunity to change the demography of Congress. People are tired of gridlock and partisan politics and I think a new breed of leaders are going to descend on Washington. I think that is really an opportunity to change somethings."

Trahan said her work as a founding member of a business consulting firm she started with two other women in the field of technology, combined with the time she spent as Congressman Marty Meehan’s chief of staff, are two reasons she believes she is qualified for the third district seat.

Her time in consulting, she said, has been to work to inspire other women into roles of leadership in fields primarily dominated by men, something not so different from Congress, and politics in general.

When it comes to reflecting on the attributes Trahan feels would make a good Congressperson, she said it is knowing there is a definite difference between working for a politician and being one, but also having the confidence that the skills you have could make you the right person for the job.

"I always said when I got into this race, because I saw the job up close, there is a chasm you have to cross between being a staff person and being an actual representative, none of that is lost on me. I feel it every day campaigning. But I always said I had a lot of confidence that I would be great at the job, I just have to get through the interview process."